Pterostichinae


Pterostichinae is a subfamily of ground beetles. It belongs to the advanced harpaline assemblage, and if these are circumscribed sensu lato as a single subfamily, Pterostichinae are downranked to a tribe Pterostichini. However, as the former Pterostichitae supertribe of the Harpalinae as loosely circumscribed does seem to constitute a lineage rather distinct from Harpalus, its core group is here considered to be the present subfamily and the Harpalinae are defined more narrowly.
They are usually mid-sized and rather stout ground beetles. Coloration is typically dark and without conspicuous patterns, but often with a strong sheen like polished metal. They are widely distributed and inhabit a wide range of terrestrial habitats. Unlike the more basal ground beetles which only eat small animals, the Pterostichinae include a large proportion of omnivorous or even herbivorous taxa.

Systematics

This group includes the following tribes and genera:
Tribe Abacetini Chaudoir, 1872
Tribe Catapieseini Bates, 1882
Tribe Chaetodactylini Tschitscherine, 1903
Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911
Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854
Tribe Drimostomatini Chaudoir, 1872
Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948
Tribe Morionini Brulle, 1835
Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810